Phase-II

In the upcoming phase-II, our emphasis will be on utilizing passive samplers for estuarine pollutant monitoring, alongside the collection of global estuarine sediment samples. Interested collaborators are encouraged to complete the registration questionnaire to receive further instructions. The official launch of phase-II is on 27 August 2026.

Phase-II Methodology

CECs: Contaminants of Emerging Concern

Sampling Protocol (Phase Two)

Sedimentary DNA and CECs Sampling Protocol

Sampling Labels (Phase Two)

Data Log (Phase Two)

Training Video for Passive Sampling

For partners in China Mainland, please click the following link to watch the video:

Passive Sampling Method_bilibili

Training Video for Sediment Sampling

For partners in China Mainland, please click the following link to watch the video:

Sediment Sampling Method_bilibili

Please send back to Hong Kong only the following items for each estuary with four sampling locations:

the aluminium foil bag containing passive sampling materials after 14 days of sampling phase and the field blank passive sampling materials (9 (New polymer)+9 (Smart sponge)+9 (SPMDs)=27 seal bags)
the aluminium foil bags with sediment samples (3 duplicates (>50 g)*4 locations+4 locations (>100 g)=16 bags), and the aluminium foil bag used as the field blank sample (4 bags)
the sedimentary DNA samples (3 duplicates*4 locations+4 field control =16 tubes).

Please ensure that all samples are stored in a -20 degree freezer before dispatch, and utilize ice packs during the shipping process to maintain the samples at the required temperature.

Ecotoxicological Studies

To enhance the precision of ecological risk assessments, especially concerning the scarcity of data on the toxicity of CECs to marine species, the GEM team is currently conducting research to augment the understanding of the toxic effects of CECs on marine organisms and establish corresponding Predicted No-Effect Concentrations (PNECs).

We invite toxicology laboratories worldwide to engage in collaborative efforts with us to conduct testing on local species for priority pollutants. This collaboration aims to derive more precise PNECs under varying geographical conditions.

Regarding the ecotoxicity test method, please refer to a paper published by GEM team: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2026.128309

Priority Compound list:

6 pharmaceuticals including amitriptyline (an antidepressant), lidocaine (an anesthetic), sucralose (an artificial sweetener), gabapentin (an antiepileptic), and loratadine and ranitidine (two antihistamines).

14 antibiotics including sparfloxacin, danofloxacin, fleroxacin, orbifloxacin, sulfadimethoxine, spiramycin, tilmicosin, josamycin, kitasamycin, azithromycin, sulfathiazole, sulfadoxin, sulfapyridine, and sulfamonomethoxine.

Eight Marine species that have already undergone testing at the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health (SKLMEH) at City University of Hong Kong include:

Four microalgae:

Chaetoceros muellerii
Isochrysis galbana
Tetraselmis suecica
Thalassiosira pseudonana

Three primary consumers:

Copepod Tigriopus japonicus
Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis
Brine shrimp Artemia franciscana

One secondary consumer:

Marine medaka Oryzias melastigma

Notes:

We aim to incorporate additional indigenous species from diverse regions, thus avoiding the necessity for redundant testing on the specified model species listed above.